News-Times, The (Danbury, CT)

Published 7:00 pm, Monday, February 21, 2005

She was a little-used reserve guard during her first three seasons, and the only reason for her increased playing time this season is out of necessity. She is the veteran among a group of very young guards, so the Huskies are relying on Valley for the experience she has.

While Valley is going to conclude her playing career without garnering some of the individual accolades point guard before her in the program, such as Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird or Jen Rizzotti, she insists she has had a fulfilling career.

"You just have to look at the things that you have had or you've gotten - people you've met from being here, the places you've been, where you've traveled," said Valley, one of four players honored tonight during Senior Night festivities before playing Pittsburgh. "I probably never would go to some of those places again. You just have to be appreciative.

"I went to Hawaii for free. I've been to San Antonio for free, New Orleans, Atlanta. The list goes on and on. The places we stay are top-notch, the food we eat is top-notch."

Of course, there are also the three national championship rings she has from her first three seasons.

Whether she will earn one at the end of this season, Valley's senior campaign will end up being memorable because of how much more she is contributing.

She is averaging a career-best 15.4 minutes a game this season. She has played 20 minutes or more nine times this season, compared to a total of four games her first three seasons combined.

Valley is making good of her playing time.

The 5-foot-9 guard has reset collegiate-highs in 10 categories. She put together career nights in both games against Rutgers this season. She played a career-best 35 minutes in both and scored 12 points in the 57-44 win. In the 76-62 loss, she led the team in rebounds with eight.

"I think I understand a little more about Connecticut basketball (now)," Valley said. "Before I obviously didn't know any of the plays or the kind of player coach (Geno Auriemma) likes. When you come here and you've been here for four years, you kind of turn towards that a little more."

Valley's scrappy playing attitude is one aspect Auriemma likes very much.

"The reason I like having her on the floor (is) everything she does is a result of her guts," Auriemma said. "She has a lot of guts, that kid. She's not afraid of anything; she's not afraid of anybody. She doesn't back down to anybody."

And Valley continued her hard-nosed playing style despite numerous injuries she has suffered during her career.

Before her sophomore year in Rice Memorial High in Colchester, Vt., Valley broke her right wrist while playing in an AAU tournament. Two years later, she tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee and missed most of her senior season because of the injury.

At the end of her freshman season at UConn, Valley had to undergo surgery on her right shoulder because it kept popping out and in place.

"She's a warrior," said Valley's sister, Morgan, a former UConn player and current volunteer assistant. "That's the only way you can put it. She just keeps going and she might wince or acts like she's hurt, but she always plays. She never wants to step off the court."

Her older sister is one reason why Ashley Valley came to UConn. When recruiting Morgan Valley, Auriemma also liked what he saw in Ashley. He offered both scholarships, and they accepted within a few months of each other.

Injuries early in their collegiate career, however, slowed both sisters. Still, Auriemma is happy both were a part of the program.

"There's no regrets on my part for taking them and hopefully there's none on their part," Auriemma said. "You can always look back and say what if this hadn't happened, but that's just the way it is.

"Injuries conspired to take all that away from both of them. But they hang in there. They're tough kids. They're really tough kids. You're talking about tough New England kid who put up with adversity."